I was fortunate enough to attend two different Rugby matches at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. At each of these matches, I was able to experience completely different economical lifestyles. While attending these games, I learned a lot more about the Australian culture and their national identity.
On the 21st of February, my host-father and my two host-brothers invited me to experience the Queensland Reds rugby match from the box suites. Obviously, this was an offer I could not turn down. I have been to countless professional sporting games throughout my life, but I had never experienced anything from the box seats.
We dressed accordingly in button-down collared shirts and dress pants. As we walked into the stadium, we stuck out like sore thumbs amongst every fan wearing their team’s colors. But, we knew where we were going and the adrenaline was quickly building.
As we entered the stadium, we were promptly greeted by a man in suit and tie who opened the door for us. We took the elevator to the top of the stadium and proceeded to walk through a hallway filled with employees offering plenty of food and beverages.
Once we arrived at our suite, I introduced myself to the other five occupants in the room. In the suite, I met and made quality conversations with the manager of Suncorp Stadium! I learned a lot about how he runs and operates an entire stadium. I also learned all about the differences in match attendance in accordance with how they chose to advertise prior to the matches. He also happily discussed with me some of the history behind some of the largest rivalry games between the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs. He demonstrated how important rugby was to the Australian culture and how it acts as a sense of nationalism.
Rugby brings hundreds of thousands of fans together and offers the Australian citizens an escape from stressful daily societal routines. Parents enter their children into rugby leagues at very young ages because it also helps develop mateship, another vital characteristic of the Australian identity.
I viewed four of my 18 year-old host brothers rugby matches where I watched the younger generation exert their competitiveness and excitement towards Australia’s sporting nature.
I attended my second experience of an Australian rugby match with the entire Lewis & Clark study abroad program. Rather than dressing in exceptional attire, I transitioned into wearing the appropriate team colors. We sat in front row seats and I observed whether the different lifestyles truly had an effect on the quality of enjoyment for the game.
Ultimately, I found no real significant difference in the extent or quality of enjoyment towards Australian rugby. Everyone had heaps of passion for the sport and they all relished in the opportunity to escape the stresses associated with their daily routines.
Personally, I had an equally outstanding experience during both matches that I watched. Regardless of whether or not, I was sitting in the box suites or at the generic seats near the field; the experience was one that I will never forget.